Indigenous Land Defense

September 17, 2017

On the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Indigenous land defenders across the country continue to protect our inherent rights and territories. The Canadian Government under Justin Trudeau continue to make false claims that they support Indigenous rights and self-government, yet non-consensual resource extraction and land theft continues. Idle No More stands in solidarity withthese land defenders. This update highlights some land defence sites, and invites Indigenous nations and our allies to join the resistance.

Land rights: Defending Kanehsata:ke

On July 11, 1990, the people of Kanehsatà:ke endured a 78 day siege known as the "Oka Crisis" in order to protect their land from a 9 hole golf course expansion by the Municipalitié d'Oka and private developers. The development would also see the removal of Kanien'kehá:ka burial ground and condominium development. At the same time, the community of Kahnawake blocked the busy Mercier bridge on the south shore of Montreal in support of their sister community of Kanehsatà:ke. While the construction the golf course expansion and condominium development was prevented, the long standing historical land dispute was never settled.

Gas & oil development on Mohawk territory

Today a new land development is taking place at the edge of the Pines area on traditional Kanien'kehá:ka territory, commonly referred to as Les Collines d'Oka. So continues the 300 year old land dispute of the ancestral lands of the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke. Since the siege of 1990, more land has been lost due to Bill S-24, an act of Parliament called the "Interim Kanesatake Land Management Act"�. This has perpetuated the 300 year old land fraud as more land has been illegally sold without the free prior and informed consent of the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke. In spite of peaceful efforts to INAC Minister Carolyn Bennett to have the development halted and intervene on behalf of the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke, Canada refuses to intervene and bring about a peaceful resolution to the contested lands.

We therefore demand that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intervene in the land dispute in Kanehsatà:ke (OKA) in order to uphold Canada's domestic and international legal obligations to defend the human rights of the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke.

Tiny House Warriors

The Secwepemc Nation is building 10 solar-powered tiny houses in the path of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. Land defender and tiny house warriors activist Kanahus Manuel explains: "We, the Secwepemc, have never ceded, surrendered, or given up our sovereign title and rights over the land, waters and resources within Secwepemcul'ecw [traditional Secwepemc territory].

We collectively hold title and governance regarding Secwepemcul'ecw and the collective consent of the Secwepemc is required for any access to our lands, waters and resources.

Swanson Island Salmon fish farm occupation

The Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Nation have stood in opposition to fish farms in their territory for nearly 30 years. Since time immemorial they have protected their salmon and herring for future generations.

The government has ignored Dzawada’enuxw leadership and allowed the fish farming industry to grow. Today 1/3 of the BC salmon farming industry is using Dzawada’enuxw territory to grow Atlantic salmon. Research on wild salmon in Dzawada’enuxw territory has recorded enormous loss of wild salmon due to sea lice from fish farms (link). While the industry claims to have improved, research published in 2016 demonstrates that sea lice from fish farms killed up to 40% of juvenile wild salmon in Dzawada’enuxw territory. There is no evidence anywhere in the world that the fish farming industry can operate without killing wild salmon. Dzawada’enuxw herring stocks have failed to rebound despite 30 years of no fishing and recent evidence shows herring congregating around the farms putting them at high risk of disease and they are eating unnatural food and vulnerable to predators.

Recent science and a federal court ruling suggest the fish farming industry is putting Atlantic salmon infected with piscine reovirus into ocean pens throughout British Columbia, including Dzawada’enuxw territory. Evidence suggests that this virus is from Norway. Wild salmon are at high risk of infection with this highly contagious virus associated with severe heart disease in salmon. This fight is for the benefit of all people because wild salmon are an essential part of our living world.

One House Many Nations update

In order to offer creative alternatives to resource extraction and bring attention to the housing crisis on First Nations in Canada, Idle No More started the One House Many Nations (OHMN) awareness and action Campaign in 2015. The first sustainable, off the grid and eco-friendly home was built and delivered to a family on the Big River First Nation in January, 2016. Over 300 people and organizations have donated money, supplies or volunteered time to the One House Many Nations Campaign (CBC article). Many First Nations have now developed similar models that focus on community needs. We are very excited to see the work of OHMN growing across Canada. The current focus is creating a sustainable village in the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, in Northern Manitoba. Building sustainable alternatives is an important and viable way to defend Indigenous territories.